Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.

Livermore News

As the setting summer sun cast a golden light over the vineyards, a radiant moon rose in the lavender sky above the lush grapevines. It was as though nature itself conspired to grace the kickoff of Taste Our Terroir, Livermore Valley’s premier food and wine affair.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory retirees, who are suing to regain University of California healthcare, are a “class” once again following a decision last week in the Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

The second public hearing to receive input from the community regarding boundaries and composition of districts for district-based elections will be held during the August 13 Livermore City Council meeting.

As reported last week, an appeal of two oil drilling permits extending the operations of E&B Natural Resources for ten more years at Patterson Pass Road in Livermore was upheld by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors at its July 24 meeting. This action ended the permit extensions. The vote was 4-0 with Supervisor Nate Miley abstaining.

On Sunday, July 29th, close to 100 Livermore residents attended an Immigration Forum at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Livermore to learn history and causes of migration and impact of family detention on families both at the border and in communities caused by the Trump Administration's immigration policies.

Diane Farner started driving buses in the Tri-Valley in January 1978 for the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District. In 1980, she went to work for the Rideo bus service in Livermore, then transitioned to the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) when LAVTA absorbed the Rideo service in 1987. After 40 years of transporting area residents, Farner recently retired at age 80.

Funds are in place to construct the Arroyo del Valle Bridge in Sycamore Grove Park. The Tri-Valley Conservancy (TVC) reported on the status of the bridge at last week's Livermore Area Recreation and Park District Board meeting.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to uphold the appeal of two permits granted to E&B Natural Resources for extensions of its oil drilling activities at two sites on Patterson Pass Road in Livermore. This action ended the permit extensions. On a motion of Supervisor Richard Valle, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to approve the appeal, with Supervisor Nate Miley abstaining.

Two legal challenges were filed disputing the constitutionality of the Health Care Service Costs Initiative that has qualified for the ballot in Livermore. One was issued by the city attorney; the other by the Hospital Committee for the Livermore-Pleasanton Area.

Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center (LVPAC) has launched the new “Green the Bankhead” project with major improvements to save energy and reduce costs that will make the Bankhead Theater safer, more efficient and environmentally-friendly. The goal is to achieve LEED certification by 2019, a globally-recognized rating of a commercial building’s sustainability, as well as certification, which assesses measures taken to ensure the health and well-being of patrons and staff.

In a rural clinic on the shores of Lake Victoria in southern Kenya, families from surrounding villages are so poor that they can’t afford blankets in which to wrap newborn babies, according to a former Livermore doctor who directed a medical clinic there.

A coalition of health care providers has raised the possibility that the net result of an initiative headed for the Nov. 6 Livermore ballot could be a cutback in Livermore health services, or even a move out of town for some, if voters were to approve the initiative.

The Livermore City Council certified that the Local Regulation of Health Care Service Costs petition had enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. At the same time, city staff was asked to prepare what is called a 9212 report.

Those who gathered on the bleachers this month to see students graduate at Granada and Livermore High schools (GHS, LHS) had the distinction of being a part of two transitions – celebrating both the academic success of the Class of 2018 and the final day of the bleachers on which they sat.

The Livermore City Council approved entering into exclusive negotiating rights agreements with Livermore Shakespeare Festival, Red Bear LLC and the Livermore Science and Society Center to build facilities around the planned Stockmen's Park in downtown Livermore.

The Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting Livermore Mayor John Marchand who will present a State of the City address at its Wine Country Luncheon on Thursday June 28 at the LARPD Robert Livermore Community Center.

The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) Board of Education voted at its May 1 meeting to approve an additional vice principal (VP) at its two comprehensive high schools for the 2018-19 school year. On June 12th, the Board unanimously approved the two new appointments to those positions. Livermore High School (LHS) teacher Brett Christopher will serve as an LHS VP, and Granada High School (GHS) Athletic Director Clark Conover as a VP at GHS.

Fertile GroundWorks is getting ready for summer, transitioning through the seasons by harvesting the last of the winter onions and garlic, as well as spring greens, broccoli, and lettuce. More beds are being prepared for summer crops, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, melons, and squashes.

Springtown residents are continuing their efforts to save the duck pond in their part of town. The pond is being removed in preparation for implementation of the Open Space Concept Plan on the former Springtown Golf Course.

The contract of Roanna Bennie, Interim President of Las Positas College, has been extended through June of 2019. Guisselle Nunez, Public Relations Director for the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, explains that the executive search “will begin this coming fall with the goal of having a permanent President mid-year or end of the academic year.”

On May 14th, the City Council unanimously approved the Isabel Neighborhood Specific Plan. The Plan is contingent on conventional (or full) BART service to Livermore. In addition, the City Council adopted a resolution recommending that BART approve full BART to Livermore extension (which does not include alternative modes such as DMU/EMU, Express Bus, or Enhanced Bus) along I-580 to Isabel Avenue

The campaign to re-elect Livermore Mayor John Marchand officially launches Thursday, May 31 with a celebration event at Attitude Aviation, located at 299 West Jack London Boulevard in Livermore. The event runs from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. It will feature light appetizers, local beer and wine and a raffle.

The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District will hold an open public hearing on the Title VI American Indian Education Program. The hearing is set for 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Lawrence School, 2451 Portola Ave., Room 25, Livermore.

Pictured are (from left) Kaitlin Hendricks, Lily Yendrey, Lainey Hendricks, Emma Yendrey, and Sara Yendrey (mom). Ema and Lilys dad, Joseph Yendrey, is a San Jose Fire Battalion Chief at the Carr Fire. He has been there since August 4. The gi…